The Edinburgh Reporter June 2023 issue

13

Piano, dance and acrobatics at The Wee Hub

The new Port of Leith Distillery will become a big tourist attraction

Tastings,

tipples

and

tours

The performance was organised by ‘Funny

Moments’ which is a group of Ukrainians who

have headed up a Children’s Programme on

board the Victoria I to bring some fun to the

youngest members living away from home.

The team organise play, arts and crafts, storytelling

and music for the 380 children on the ship to

keep them active and focused after school and

at the weekends.

‘Funny Moments’ was formed by the ship

charter organiser Landry & Kling employing a

team of seven Ukrainian guests from the ship

with backgrounds in childcare, including teachers

and one child psychologist. Natalie Pidruchna the

director of Funny Moments said that in addition

to staging the concert the Wee Hub have offered

an area for the children’s programme to use in the

future even after the ship leaves.

The Wee Hub in the former department store last

year when their artwork was also put on display.

Following a performance of dance, acrobatics

and song for ‘Ukrainian Independence Day’ on

the Victoria I cruise ship the children were

absoutely delighted to receive a request for a

repeat performance by the local community.

The festive concert was dedicated to the

people of Scotland in celebration of their

‘Defender of Ukraine Day’.

THE PORT OF LEITH Distillery will be the

biggest tourist attraction to open in Leith

for decades, according to the owners

Muckle Brig who estimate they will

welcome 25,000 visitors in the first year,

growing to 160,000 a year by 2025.

The two hand-crafted copper stills made

at The Speyside Copper Works in Elgin, are

in place at the new vertical distillery ready

to open this summer.

The nine-storey building will offer tours,

tastings and feature a mezzanine floor bar

on its top floor with panoramic views of

Leith and Edinburgh.

The distillery is hiring for 53 new

positions this year with many roles at Port

of Leith Distillery and the rest at its

eco-friendly Lind & Lime gin distillery on

the Water of Leith. Roles include hospitality

and tourism, digital marketing, production,

business development and finance.

Ian Stirling, Co-Founder of Muckle Brig,

said: “It was a love for spirits and a love for

Leith that formed our foundations back in

2018. Since then, we’ve opened our new
      Lind & Lime facility on Coburg Street and
      are now preparing to open the UK’s first
      vertical distillery, right in the heart of the
      historic port.
      “For much of the 19th and 20th
      century, Leith was the unocial capital
      of Scotch Whisky - making it the
      perfect place to build a new industrial
      landmark like the Port of Leith Distillery;
      an honest and modern piece of
      architecture that reflects our new

and innovative approach to production.

“Local investment and local

employment have always been a key focus

of ours. We’ve been fortunate enough to

have worked with a host of excellent local

talent so far and are looking forward to

welcoming some new faces to help us

make history down by the shore.”

Port of Leith Distillery is the latest

long term investment by Co-Owners

and lifelong friends Ian Stirling and Paddy

Fletcher, following the opening of the

new Lind & Lime Gin Distillery a brand

they launched in 2018 from a tiny

industrial unit.

The gin distillery has welcomed more

than 6,000 visitors to its tasting, bottling

and cocktail making tours in a year.

THE AWARD-WINNING tourist attraction,

Royal Yacht Britannia, is berthed right next to

Ocean Terminal and visitors go on board

from the second floor. The tour can be

self-guided with an audio guide or a British

Sign Language hand-held tablet. The tour

script is available in English Braille and the

tour route is wheelchair friendly with lifts

and ramps throughout.

The five star visitor attraction is owned by

a charitable organisation,The Royal Yacht

Britannia Trust, which receives no public

sector funding. All revenue generated goes

towards the long-term maintenance and

preservation of the ship.

Highlights include the Sun Lounge, the

State Dining Room and State Drawing Room,

which contrast with the working side of the

ship, including the Crew’s Quarters, Laundry

and gleaming Engine Room.

Around 95% of items on display are

the original artefacts on loan from

The Royal Collection.

Visitors can enjoy the stunning harbour

views from the Royal Deck Tea Room.

Traditionally, the Royal Family would have

used the Royal Deck for cocktail parties

and receptions.

We are sailing

Night testing

began in April

Tim Vincent-Smith,

centre, and Matt Wright,

second right, in the

Old Royal Pianodrome

Paddy Fletcher

and Ian Stirling

Joyce Landry with Ukrainian kids

Douglas Roberts

Thomas Haywood